Spiritual preparedness

An American SVD missionary who worked for many years in Abra then transferred to the Divine Word College of Laoag had passed away. Upon request of his religious confreres and numerous former parishioners, his remains were brought to Abra so they could pay their last respects to a much loved and dedicated priest.

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A diocesan priest and former assistant priest of the deceased missionary celebrated a Requiem Mass. Sadly, while preaching his homily, he was so overwhelmed, eulogizing his former pastor that he suffered a massive heart attack. Some priests joked: “Maybe his former parish priest needed an assistant again in heaven.”

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That story illustrates how death can be so unexpected and swift. Think, too, of crashes and accidents, unpredictable situations like a stray bullet hitting a bystander, and natural calamities that snuff out lives.

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Hence, in this 19th Sunday gospel of the liturgical calendar, the Lord reminds us to be wide awake, vigilant and prepared. “Be on guard,” Jesus says, “the Son of Man will come when you least expect him.” (Lk 12,40).

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“It will go well with those servants whom the Master finds watching on his return,” Jesus teaches.
Live wisely” the Lord says. “Living wisely” means not only being concerned with our present day-to-day needs but having an eye on our ultimate end in this world.

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Once there was an aging wealthy man who lived alone and began to make preparation for his demise. He bought a lot in a memorial garden.

Some months after, feeling that the end was near, he executed his last will and testament. Then he invited his relatives to come and see him.

A few days after, he died. The man did right in making preparation but it was for his body only and none for his soul.

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Making spiritual provisions means performing good works. Remember Christ’s parable of the Last Judgment? “When I was hungry, you gave me to eat; thirsty, you gave me drink; in prison and sick and you visited me…Enter the Kingdom of heaven.”

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Spiritual preparation also means the faithful performance of our duties and obligations in whatever capacities we serve, whether as a parent, factory worker, government personnel or top executive.

It is also expected that our life is not tainted by unrepented sins and wrongdoings.

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ASK YOURSELF: Am I doing my God-given task faithfully and honestly? Is my earthly life characterized by acts of charity? Let’s live in such a way that when the inevitable end comes, the Master will find us “ready to open immediately when He knocks.”

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LAFF ONE ANOTHER. A wife ordered a tombstone for her late husband’s grave with this inscription to be written: “Rest in Peace.”

A few days later she discovered that her husband had left a part of his will to another woman.

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Furious, she called up the engraver if he could change the inscription on the tombstone. The man replied that “Rest in Peace” had been already inscribed.